Kuwait reiterates its stance on protecting human rights

02/11/2019

Al-Majroub speaks before UNGA discussing UNHRC report

Kuwait’s Diplomatic Attache of the Permanent Delegation to the UN Nasser Al- Majroub, speaks before the UNGA.

NEW YORK, Nov 2, (KUNA): Kuwait has reiterated its principled stance on protecting and maintaining respect for human rights, ensuring their implementation. The affirmation was made in a speech, delivered by Kuwait’s Diplomatic Attache of the Permanent Delegation to the UN Nasser Al-Majroub on Friday, before the UN General Assembly, discussing the report of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Kuwait’s Constitution provides many economic, social, political, civil and religious rights to all citizens, without discrimination such as the right to education, property, work and freedom in practicing religious rituals, he said. Many articles of the constitution are in harmony with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and international conventions concerned with the preservation of human rights, he underlined.

Despite serious violations of human rights worldwide, great efforts are being made to protect it, Al-Majroub pointed out. The international community urges countries to promote human rights, reflected in inclusion in the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, he said. He stressed on Kuwait’s eagerness to fulfill obligations by submitting periodic reports to committees concerned with human rights to the UN within the specified dates and deadlines.

Report Kuwait submitted its third periodic report on the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), as well as its third to sixth periodic report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in November 2018.

The initial report reviewed the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in September 2019, which was welcomed by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR), Al-Majroub explained. Kuwait is preparing to discuss its third comprehensive national report to the UNHRC in early 2020, Al-Majroub noted.

He expressed the importance of cooperating with the mechanisms of the UNHRC, benefitting from the international body experience to achieve further progress in human rights.

Al-Majroub noted that the Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities visited Kuwait in the end of 2018, which was an evidence of that cooperation. Kuwait shares the concern of the UNHCHR over Israel’s continued violation of the inalienable rights of Palestinians, international human rights law (IHRL) in defiance of Security Council resolutions, he added.

He regretted the continued suffering of the Rohingya minority, saying it is time for them to enjoy a safe life and peacefully return home. The Kuwaiti diplomatic attache commended the role of the Head of UNHCHR Michelle Bachelet and her office over their great efforts to spread and consolidate the principles of human rights.

He stressed Kuwait’s continued support to the Office of UNHCHR, pointing out the challenges it faces in order to ensure states’ obligations under IHRL.